No fairytale farewell for Mackie

Aberdeen striker Darren Mackie missed out on the chance to end his Dons' career with a goal as his final game for the club ended with a 0-0 draw at home to St Mirren.

Mackie was well involved as the side he has served so well were involved in an entertaining encounter with St Mirren.

Steven Thompson had St Mirren's best chances and forced a late save out of Jamie Langfield who blocked his efforts with his legs.

The Dons were on the front foot from the off, and should have been ahead within the first five minutes. Andy Considine hit over from distance in the opening minute and a Jamie Masson cross had fizzed across goal just begging for a touch, before Mackie's first chance to notch a dream goal arrived.

Kari Arnason hit a superb pass in behind the St Mirren defence for Mackie to latch onto, but goalkeeper Craig Samson clearly had not read the script and got down to palm the striker's effort round the post.

Aberdeen were certainly looking the more likely, and should have punished an error by Samson after 14 minutes, the goalkeeper caught under Josh Magennis' long throw, but the ball scrambled clear. Youngster Masson was impressing in the midfield, and a Mackie flick from his corner forced Jim Goodwin to clear off the line at the back post.

It took until the midway point of the first half for the visitors to register a shot on target, Thompson getting in behind Magennis before seeing his shot parried away by Langfield. Heartened by the effort, they soon threatened again, Graham Carey curling a 25-yard free-kick just inches wide of the post after Mark Reynolds had brought down Dougie Imrie.

Man-of-the-moment Mackie had another chance to sign off with a goal in front of the Dons support, before the half-hour, but this time flashed his close-range effort across the face of goal.

The home side were quickly on the search for the opener in the second, and Masson should have done better with his header from Mackie's cross. Samson's goal was under threat again when the Buddies defence failed to deal with a free-kick from the left, clearing only as far as Gavin Rae who fizzed a left-foot volley over the crossbar from 20 yards.

In a bid to get a goal, Danny Lennon threw on Nigel Hasselbaink and Gary Teale for Carey and Imrie just after the hour. But Aberdeen still looked the more positive side. Ryan Jack had a final chance in injury time as he sent a 20-yard free-kick towards goal, but Samson saved comfortably.